PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,200 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 547.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 16.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,550 vs 40,126).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +45.1% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.7 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($2,399 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,200 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 547.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 16.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $2,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +45.1% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,550 vs 40,126).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.7 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($2,399 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX better than Ryzen 5 5600?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 5600 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 45.1% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the better fit. You are getting 86.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is 1105.5% more expensive on MSRP at $2,399 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 45.1% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600 is also 547.4% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 16.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Ryzen 5 5600 Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low	161 FPS	208 FPS
medium	130 FPS	170 FPS
high	112 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	108 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	187 FPS
medium	113 FPS	150 FPS
high	95 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	91 FPS
medium	69 FPS	78 FPS
high	55 FPS	61 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	49 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low	508 FPS	770 FPS
medium	419 FPS	656 FPS
high	351 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	453 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	639 FPS
medium	375 FPS	554 FPS
high	323 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	373 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	375 FPS
medium	268 FPS	327 FPS
high	243 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	262 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low	539 FPS	802 FPS
medium	526 FPS	659 FPS
high	483 FPS	602 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	524 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	617 FPS
medium	434 FPS	506 FPS
high	396 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	339 FPS	394 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	447 FPS
medium	298 FPS	357 FPS
high	255 FPS	323 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	257 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
1080p
low	539 FPS	1003 FPS
medium	539 FPS	1003 FPS
high	539 FPS	911 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	806 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	933 FPS
medium	539 FPS	817 FPS
high	539 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	601 FPS
4K
low	501 FPS	667 FPS
medium	448 FPS	599 FPS
high	398 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 March 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Chagall PRO (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 40,126 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses Chagall PRO (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX's 40,126 — a 60.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	4.1 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	Chagall PRO (2022)
PassMark	21,550	40,126+86%
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,077	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,052	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,600	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
Socket	AM4	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+6553500%	2048
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	128+433%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX rivals Xeon W-3335.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 5600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX debuted at $2399. On MSRP ($199 vs $2399), the Ryzen 5 5600 is $2200 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600 delivers 108.3 pts/$ vs 16.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 146.5% better value option.